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The 7 Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport and have responsibility in their area for:

the licensing of the operators of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and of buses and coaches (public service vehicles or PSVs)

the registration of local bus services

granting vocational licences and taking action against drivers of HGVs and PSVs

The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland is also responsible for dealing with both appeals against decisions by Scottish local authorities on taxi fares, with appeals against charging and removing improperly parked vehicles in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Commissioners are statutory independent in their licensing functions. When necessary, they hold public inquiries, in particular to consider the environmental suitability of HGV operating centres and the possibility of disciplinary action against operators who have not observed the conditions of their licences.

The role of the Senior Traffic Commissioner is a statutory one whose responsibilities are set out in the Local Transport Act 2008.

Beverley Bell, the Traffic Commissioner for the north west of England, is the current Senior Traffic Commissioner. Traffic Commissioners are assisted by Deputy Traffic Commissioners, who hold some of the public inquiries, driver conduct and impounding hearings.

Traffic Commissioners’ publication scheme

The traffic commissioners’ publication scheme is currently under review and a revised scheme is expected to be available in by the end of 2013. In the mean time, if you are not able to locate traffic commissioner related documents by other means, please submit a request for information to the traffic commissioners’ freedom of information team at tcfoi@otc.gsi.gov.uk.